The cutting-edge database will give federal and state animal health authorities access to vital information in the event of a disease outbreak, allowing animal health officials to trace individual animals to their source within 48 hours.
US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has publicly expressed his support for a private, industry-led approach to developing a national animal movement database because such a system would help ensure that producers retain ownership and control of their confidential business data.
The database is in its initial phase, with data being collected from existing state and association projects. The second phase of bringing the system online, which is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2006, will allow individual producers to input data about their herds directly.
Content from our partners
